School honours beloved teacher Michelle Geary with 'shining light' on her birthday

A devoted teacher's tragic death from an eastern brown snake bite has inspired her students to create an extraordinary tribute that will shine forever in her memory.

Michelle Geary tragically passed away in 2022 after being bit by an eastern brown snake.

A devoted schoolteacher who tragically lost her life has been honoured by her students, who used her birthday to shine a light on their heartwarming tribute.

Michelle Geary was bitten by an eastern brown snake when she was exiting her car outside her home in the North Burnett in 2022.

She was flown to Bundaberg for treatment after her husband, Robert Geary, called an ambulance and applied a snake bandage but she unfortunately died in hospital.

Michelle, as well as being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, was a teacher at Gayndah State School, where she had taught for 22 years.

Michelle and Robert Geary.

After the tragedy, acting principal at the school and friend of Michelle’s, Leah Trott, told Queensland Country Life she was a loved teacher and colleague at the school.

“She was cherished by all in her community and left a lasting legacy of compassion and dedication to her students, family and friends,” she said.

“We will miss her.”

And missed she is.

To commemorate her life and dedication to the school, students have been working at restoring the front garden, transforming it into a garden in honour of the dearly-loved Mrs Geary.

Students wrote tributes to honour their late teacher.

The garden includes an artwork displaying written tributes among a medley of pink and yellow flowers, planter boxes, a row of brightly coloured, blooming orange, red, and pink flowers, herbs and spices, and a black, old-fashioned street lamp.

The lamp was purchased by the student council, who have been working tirelessly to organise fundraising events for the garden, and was lit for the first time on Tuesday night, what would have been Mrs Geary’s 59th birthday, as a way to celebrate her.

The lamp was lit for the first time on Tuesday night, Michelle’s birthday.

The garden is full of colourful flowers.

An online post was shared to the Gayndah State School Facebook page to commemorate the milestone.

“It’s been a labour of love, but Mrs Geary’s garden is blossoming,” the post read.

“Tonight we turned on her special light for the first time to celebrate her birthday today.

“The light was purchased by the student council.

“Always our shining light.”

Michelle was a teacher at Gayndah State School for 22 years.

Tributes rolled in under the comment section, where the school took the time to thank everyone who had supported their fundraising efforts and “our hardworking groundsman Geoff Morgan for his green fingers!”.

Susanne Maree Capewell said it was “such a lovely memorial for a dear friend and colleague, sadly missed”.

Sandra Kemmy the garden was “a beautiful way to remember how much she meant to the school and the community”.

An ex-student of Mrs Geary’s, Natalie Hatton, thanked the school for the tribute.

“I used to drive her car when she was teaching at Abercorn School, I was in Year 7 and she reckons I could drive the car better than she did,” she said.

“Just taken too soon.”

Tess Eisel said it was a wonderful way to honour Michelle and Ian Schmidt said it was a beautiful tribute.

Julie Zahl said Michelle was a loved teacher and was gone far too soon but “always lovingly remembered with much affection”.

Pam Slack said it was “a beautiful tribute for our much loved Michelle, shining brightly and showing the way”.

“What a wonderful tribute to Mrs Geary,” Chrissy Taylor said.

“The garden is coming along nicely and the lamp is a great touch.”

Originally published as School honours beloved teacher Michelle Geary with 'shining light' on her birthday